Lookout in murder case back in jail on burglary, marijuana charges

Published September 27. 2013 5:00PM

Updated September 27. 2013 11:55PM

Four months after he was released from prison for his role in the 2008 murder of a Mystic man, 19-year-old Bruce Grisafe is back in prison on charges he broke into an East Lyme home and was in possession of marijuana when stopped by police.

Grisafe, of Salem, was charged Sept. 17 with second-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 at the Manson Youth Institution and is due to appear in New London Superior Court on Oct. 2.

Grisafe had been released from prison on May 10 after serving five years for accessory to first-degree robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to the Department of Correction. He had pleaded guilty to serving as a lookout on a dock at Seaport Marine while two men boarded a boat with the intention of robbing 29-year-old Kyle Sheets on Sept. 26, 2008. Sheets was fatally stabbed during an ensuing struggle.

Grisafe's sentence included five years of probation upon his release from prison.

According to a report by East Lyme police, Grisafe broke into the home of a friend on West Main Street in Niantic, entering the house by shattering a sliding glass door and stealing $600 from the victim's bedroom. The victim reported that Grisafe texted him later that day and told him he had jammed his hand in the door the previous night while intoxicated, according to the report. Grisafe then told the victim he had $450 and asked if they could go buy marijuana from a local man named "Joe" because Grisafe needed to "re-up," or get more pot.

The police, suspecting Grisafe intended to buy marijuana from a Flanders Road man the police knew as "Midway Joe," set up surveillance in the area and stopped a car occupied by Grisafe, the burglary victim, the victim's mother and a juvenile girl, according to the report.

The mother gave police permission to search the car, and they found a bag of marijuana on the floor under the seat where Grisafe was sitting, according to the report.

Asked about cuts on his hand, Grisafe said he had fallen at the victim's home, according to the report.